Part 3/13:
For decades, California has invested heavily in suppression tactics to battle wildfires after they ignite. However, these measures often resemble a game of whack-a-mole: as one fire is contained, another erupts elsewhere. The escalating costs, straining both budgets and resources, highlight an urgent need to shift focus from fire suppression to proactive prevention.
Climate change has further complicated matters, creating hotter, drier conditions conducive to larger and more destructive wildfires. The increases in intensity and scope are not just a matter of more flames but of more uncontrollable ones, often fueled by dense underbrush and accumulated debris on forest floors.